These are Iowa’s best and brightest students, the next generation of leaders. Each year, Des Moines Register editors ask Iowa, officials to nominate seniors for Academic All-State recognition. Each school official selects one graduating senior who stands out among his or her peers for achievements in academics, community involvement, and leadership. The students share their own thoughts reflecting on, and looking toward their futures. Register editors chose 10 “outstanding students” from the entire state to feature here. Editors also chose six more students from each of five regions to highlight. We also publish the names of all students selected by their school officials.

WE WANT YOUR FEEDBACK: Don’t see your school represented and want to be included in 2018? Have a question or comment about the selections or the rest of the section? Contact section editor Lucas Grundmeier at lgrundme@dmreg.com or 515-284-8142.

Top 10 students statewide

Gabe Ewert(Photo: David Woolf/Special to the Register)

Gabe Ewert

Des Moines East

ACT score: 34

Class rank: 6 of 451

GPA: 4.17

College: University of Iowa

Major: Biology

What are your life goals? I have both a personal and professional interest in being involved in cancer research. Several of my close family members have been afflicted with this disease. My hope is to eventually be part of a team that develops strategies for helping treat the different forms of cancer that arise. If I can help even one person effectively fight off the scourge of cancer, I can be happy knowing I made the world a little better.

What challenges have shaped you, and how? My dad passed away unexpectedly late last year from a heart attack. Dealing with this loss has been difficult as my dad and I were about as close as a father and son can be. Of course we fought sometimes, but I always went to him if I needed advice or I just needed to rant about problems in my life. I looked up to my dad for being one of the funniest, smartest, and hardest-working people I've ever met. After he passed, I felt hopeless. I wondered how could I ever move on with my life. After a while, however, I realized my dad wouldn't have wanted me to mope around. He always pushed me to be the best version of myself. I truly took that message to heart and have worked hard to make the best of my senior year thus far.

My favorite place in Iowa: Downtown Des Moines during the summer. Events like the farmer's market, I-Cubs games, the world food festival, 80/35 and many more make our city truly come to life.

My day is not complete until I ... do something musical of some kind. Music is one of my greatest passions in life. Currently I play guitar and saxophone and a tiny bit of piano. Playing music, for me, is a great stress reliever.

JJ Kapur(Photo: Special to the Register)

JJ Kapur

West Des Moines Valley

ACT score: 35

GPA: 4.31

College: Undecided

Major: Political Science

What are your life goals? I hope to become a lawyer in the U.S. Department of Justice's Civil Rights Division. The current climate of xenophobic rhetoric, especially after a polarizing presidential election, promotes prejudice in America. After the attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon on 9/11, a strong wave of anti-foreign sentiment spread across the United States. Extreme Islamic terrorism provoked an atmosphere of suspicion, fear, distrust, and racism in America. In fact, the United States Department of Justice recorded 800 incidences of hate crimes against individuals perceived to be of Middle Eastern origin since 9/11. Becoming a civil rights lawyer will allow me to protect the rights of marginalized groups in the United States.

What challenges have shaped you, and how? My first experience with bigotry came when my family and I were eating at a Popeye’s restaurant in Des Moines. We heard jeers from across the room: “Hey Osama, go home!” I will never forget my father’s eyes, filled with anger and disappointment. I felt frustrated. I am an American and I have lived in this country my entire life — this is my home. There have been times when I have been tempted to discard my Sikh identity by removing my turban and cutting my hair, but my father encouraged me to strengthen my roots. He says that “as Sikhs we are rare ones, and if we don’t stand up for our beliefs, we will go extinct.” These words inspire me every day — they are a constant call to action.

My favorite place in Iowa: Home. I have lived in the same house since the day I was born. My fondest memories come from my home: binge-watching "M*A*S*H," Bollywood movie nights, backyard cricket matches — it all happened there.

My day is not complete until I ... have my cup of chai. Every evening in the Kapur household is marked by an ancient Indian tradition: tea time. What makes tea time so special is not the caffeine rush or sugar high — it is family time.

Leah Fairchild(Photo: Special to the Register)

Leah Fairchild

Cedar Falls

ACT score: 36

GPA: 4.15

College: Undecided

Major: Dance

What are your life goals? My main goal in life is to find a steady career in the dance field, whether it be through performing, choreographing, teaching, or something else. I want to be able to influence people through movement in the same way that I have been influenced by my dance teachers and other dancers.

What challenges have shaped you, and how? My high school years as a whole have been challenging but have also taught me a lot. I have had a very full schedule between difficult classes at school, many hours of dance, working, and volunteering. I still have not perfected my time management skills but having a multitude of activities in my weekly schedule has taught me how to be independent, responsible, and accountable.

My favorite place in Iowa: Stephens Auditorium in Ames because it is a beautiful theater and I have been to many dance competitions there where I have made great memories with my friends.

My day is not complete until I ... dance. I spend every weekday and often the weekends at my dance studio taking classes and rehearsing, but even when I don’t have to be at the studio, I dance at home.

Collin Kepner(Photo: Special to the Register)

Collin Kepner

Ottumwa

ACT score: 36

Class rank: 1 of 306

GPA: 4.0

College: Undecided

Major: Undecided

What are your life goals? I am very analytical, so I hope to analyze the ways we think to promote societal well-being. I want to understand the meanings behind our thoughts and how these meanings guide our decisions and aspirations. I would love to apply this knowledge in a financial or political context to guide public policy and contribute to a better future. For example, the ability to understand the psychology behind the Great Recession of 2008 might allow us to prevent such a disaster in the future by identifying why the harmful interaction between consumers, credit ratings agencies, banks, and the government occurred in the first place.

What challenges have shaped you, and how? At the start of ninth grade, I had difficulty thinking and speaking on my feet, caused by a lack of confidence that I developed from being bullied in middle school. I tried to overcome this challenge through debate, but I simply found that I heavily relied on prepared materials during tournaments because I was terrified of failure. I thought extensive research could compensate for my fear of spontaneity. Fast-forward to the winter of my junior year, when I joined the speech team, performing in an ensemble acting piece. I loved it — acting was a way of expressing myself that encouraged a level of risk-taking debate never afforded me. This year, I performed at All-State in the category of Spontaneous Speaking. For me, the accomplishment signifies a profound transformation from my freshman year self, who lacked the confidence to trust himself, to my senior year self, who can express his ideas confidently.

My favorite place in Iowa: The auditorium of Ottumwa High School, where I can engage in rehearsals and performances for band, drama, choir, and show choir.

My day is not complete until I ... engage with music. I find ways to immerse myself in music daily, whether it is through rehearsal in a musical ensemble or simply through listening to a song online. Music is my inspiration.

Lane Kunzie(Photo: Special to the Register)

Lane Kunzie

Wayne

Class rank: 1 of 50

GPA: 4.0

College: Iowa State University

Major: Biology and Global Resource Systems

What are your life goals? I will either go into medical school to become a family physician, or continue my education in another agricultural major. I have always been in love with marine biology; one of my options would be to relocate on the coast and enroll in graduate school. One college I have had my sights on is James Cook University in Townsville, Queensland, Australia on the coast next to the Great Barrier Reef. Regardless of where I end up occupationally, I desire to obtain a Ph.D., and focus on bettering the world. One thing on my bucket list is to visit all of the world's countries; I have a desire to see the world and embrace other cultures.

What challenges have shaped you, and how? My parents divorced when I was 8, and my mother went through another divorce when I was 14. I have become very independent as a person through my personal complications. I struggled when I was in elementary school, because I realized I was different than other kids in my grade. As I got older, I realized I was gay, but wouldn't admit it to myself. I bottled up my emotions, and became a very negative and hateful person. I even became a bully at one point. As I got older, I began to write. I wrote about troubled people and put my emotions onto paper. I published my first book in eighth grade, and continued to write throughout my high school career. I came out my sophomore summer, and used the opportunity to help my school. I created a Gay-Straight Alliance, joined the Iowa Student Leadership Council, and became an advocate. I have learned to empathize, and I have become a leader from my struggles and lessons.

My favorite place in Iowa: Our old farm on the Iowa-Missouri line. I have a lot of memories while growing up on that farm with my grandparents, cousins, and siblings.

My day is not complete until I ... play a good match of Fortnite and read my Flip Board News articles over politics.

Katelyn Leiran(Photo: Special to the Register)

Katelyn Leiran

Waukon

SAT score: 1400

Class rank: 1 of 82

GPA: 3.98

College: Luther College

Major: Biology (Pre-med)

What are your life goals? I hope to spend the first few years of my practice in a larger hospital, but eventually return to a rural community to help care for people in areas where they are in need of more medical care availability. Another goal of mine is to help people around the world gain access to medical care by becoming involved with Doctors Without Borders, and spend time helping people in other countries.

What challenges have shaped you, and how? One major challenge I have faced in my life is bullying. Over time, the hurtful words and actions of my classmates really took their toll on my self-esteem, and I became exceedingly insecure. I have come a long way since then, but I still don’t trust people like I used to. Over time, I have learned not to define myself based on the opinions of others, and that has helped me become extremely comfortable in my own skin. With this newfound confidence, I took many leadership and mentoring positions while in high school. I became extremely involved in choir, student council, speech, the musical, and the play. These activities have helped me to branch out and make friends who accept me for who I am.

My favorite place in Iowa:Yellow River State Forest. It has such a naturally beautiful scenery and trails as well as some very fun memories for me and I enjoy going there many times every summer.

My day is not complete until I ... go to choir. It is my favorite class of the day, and I am lucky to work with many very talented individuals which make practices seem less like work and more like jam sessions.

Maya Miller(Photo: Special to the Register)

Maya Miller

Des Moines Roosevelt

ACT score: 35

Class rank: 2 of 469

GPA: 4.43

College: 4-year college/university, undecided

Major: International Studies or Human Organizational Development

What are your life goals? I feel so fortunate to have grown up in the U.S. during this era of transition. Some may call it tumultuous or frightening, but I see it as an opportunity we’ve been waiting to seize — a chance to challenge the status quo. Right now, I hope to double major in international studies and a STEM-related field, and then continue on to law school with an emphasis on intellectual property law. Ideally, I’d work overseas for a nonprofit or startup, then to start my own civic action group to advance the rights of women and minorities.

What challenges have shaped you, and how? At the beginning of my freshman year, my father Daniel Miller was diagnosed with a rare neurological disease called Multiple System Atrophy. I spent many evenings alone at the dinner table while Mom helped Dad upstairs. Over 60 nursing aides entered our house in under 3 years, making it especially hard to “towel dash” from the shower to my room. With one parent ill and the other playing caregiver, I suddenly served as woman of the house more often than I’d have liked. In other words, I grew up fast. Near the start of junior year, Dad permanently moved into the care center just across the street from school. It was agony watching him age what seemed like 30 years in 18 months, but through these challenges, Dad taught me what it meant to be a fighter and to hold my ground. His brave fight reminded me daily to stay mindful and live in the moment, practice kindness and patience, and never give up. Sadly, we lost him this year on Feb. 25, but I’ll treasure his lessons all my life.

My favorite place in Iowa: I love heading out to the Downtown Farmers Market in the summer! There’s an endless array of people to watch, fresh foods to buy/eat, and nothing beats supporting small businesses and local growers.

My day is not complete until I ... Go to the yoga studio! Well, that’s a bit of a “stretch” :)I don’t make it to my mat every day, but practicing mindfulness and taking time for self-care are two life lessons I’m glad I learned early.

Alexis Redshaw(Photo: RisneyPhoto&Design/Special to the Register)

Alexis Redshaw

Underwood

ACT score: 32

Class rank: 1 of 61

GPA: 4.000

College: University of Iowa

Major: Political Science/Pre-Law

What are your life goals? Ever since I participated in my middle school’s mock trial team, I have had a passion for law. I plan to use this passion in my future career to help fight for my clients and get the justice they deserve. I would like to practice overseas with philanthropic organizations. As an elementary student, I helped raise money for an organization called Water for Sudan. After this experience, I have had a place in my heart for helping those in developing countries and have been inspired in wanting to provide legal aid to their citizens. Along with working overseas, I do have an interest in family law. My interest in family law began after I volunteered at Adoption Day in Council Bluffs. I was able to see firsthand the joy of families coming together, and I could see myself working to provide legal permanence for families in similar situations. My main goal in life will always be to help and advocate for others who can’t do so for themselves.

What challenges have shaped you, and how? One challenge that I have faced in this past year has been my dad losing his job. My dad was without a job for a year and three months prior to this January. It not only left a financial burden on my family but put an emotional strain on my parents. No child wants to see their parents stressed over how and when they would pay off bills or debt. Through seeing my parents deal with these struggles, I’ve learned the power of resilience. Whenever my dad received a call telling him he didn’t get hired for a position, he never quit or gave up on his job search. He continually made the choice to keep applying and calling employers until he found a opening again. I learned from him that hard work does pay off, and it has motivated me to not only maintain a 4.0 GPA but to continue pursuing my dreams no matter what challenges affect me.

My favorite place in Iowa: Iowa City. This city is where I’ll spend the coming years at the University of Iowa. I love this city for many reasons but mainly because it’s the place my future begins.

My day is not complete until I ... check every item off my homework list in my planner. I am extremely organized, and I can’t fall asleep knowing I have assignments left to do. The list keeps me on track.

Zachary Ruden(Photo: Special to the Register)

Zachary Ruden

Remsen St. Mary's Catholic

ACT score: 34

Class rank: 1 of 24

GPA: 4.00

College: University of Iowa

Major: Pre-Medicine

What are your life goals? One day in the far future, I want to sign on to a hospital staff in a rural community. I’ve felt that the rural communities offer the best family atmosphere and seem like a good fit for me. Right now, I am interested in family medicine or orthopedics. Both take several extra years after medical school. It would be a dream to eventually settle down again in a rural area like this with a family.

What challenges have shaped you, and how? Being part of such a small school has been both a challenge and a blessing. Since our school only has around 70 students together, everyone must participate to make things work. It has forced me to put in an insane amount of time to be successful in each and every sport. It has shaped me in my love for the sports I play. It has also taught me how to manage time very effectively and the value in volunteerism. With so few people, we are always considered underdogs. It has shaped me to keep a chip on my shoulder and putting full effort into everything I do.

My favorite place in Iowa: Okoboji and boating on the lake.

My day is not complete until I ... get a hard workout in in the weight room.

Robert Shore(Photo: Special to the Register)

Robert Shore

Grinnell-Newburg

ACT score: 35

Class rank: 1 of 126

What are your life goals? I am an Aspiring Effective Altruist, and hope to do the most good I can with the skills and talents I have been gifted with. This goal can take on a variety of forms depending on the person, from working in charity to seeking out the best-paying jobs and "earning to give." I hope to find a happy medium between these two options, finding a job at a charity or venture in social entrepreneurship where I can use my talents in mathematics or computer science to help make a difference directly while also earning enough to put 10 percent or more of my income to charity. I admire people who are dedicated to careers in teaching or medicine, but the cost of medical school, put towards malaria nets, can save more lives than I could in a lifetime. And if I am able to use my knowledge of mathematics to, say, create a better system to microfinance new equipment for African farmers, I could save more lives than I could rescue with a lifetime of income donated to malaria nets.

What challenges have shaped you, and how? I have always struggled with interacting with other people and finding a balance between saying too much and too little. Interacting with large groups is one thing, and I've gotten fairly good at addressing classes or audiences with my experience in theatre and improv. However, personal relationships are entirely different. I'm used to solving problems by thinking harder and longer, but social interactions are one place where this can backfire into "trying too hard" or even coming across as nosy. The close relationships that I have developed are my greatest pride.

My favorite place in Iowa: My own backyard. It is suffused with the work and care of my mom, who turned an empty lawn into a labyrinth of flowers, and the best reading nook her son could ask for.

My day is not complete until I ... try to look something up on Wikipedia and emerge dazed from a fascinating rabbit hole of links three hours later.